Labour Day is an important opportunity to take time to relax, spend time with family and friends, get our children ready to head back to school and celebrate the one day of the year dedicated to working people.

Labour Day is also an opportunity to recognize the contributions that union wages and benefits make in our communities.

Researchers at the Canadian Labour Congress have found that on average unionized workers in Victoria earn $5.33 an hour more than do non-union workers. That extra money in the pockets of the city’s 54,200 unionized employees translates into an added $11.2 million every week paid into the local economy.

At the provincial level, unionized workers in British Columbia earn $5.12 an hour more on average than do non-union workers. That adds an extra $100 million per week to the provincial economy.

Decent wages mean prosperous communities because unionized workers spend their pay cheques close to home. They support local businesses and bolster the local tax base which, in turn, supports public works, community services and charities. We have found that centres with more union members support a richer mix of businesses and services – dentists, chiropractors, therapists, health specialists, family lawyers. These services benefit everyone. In short, these communities are better places in which to live and work.

But it doesn’t end there. Many of the things first won by unions are enjoyed by all workers today, including minimum wages, overtime pay, workplace safety standards, maternity and paternity leaves, vacation pay and protection from discrimination and harassment.

We believe in the saying that what we want for ourselves we seek for all. We have pushed those who hold elected office in our local boards, city councils and legislatures to provide a broad range of family-supporting public programs and services. That is why, for example, the labour movement is working to convince governments to improve Canada Pension Plan benefits. This would ensure that every retired Canadian – whether or not they belonged to a union – will receive a liveable retirement income from CPP. It can easily be done and it’s only fair.

We also believe that protections for non-union workers should also be improved. That includes pushing for an increase in our minimum wage and ensuring adequate enforcement mechanisms for employment standards disputes.

Being in a union is especially important for women and younger workers. CLC researchers found that in B.C. women who belong to unions earn an average of $6.91 an hour more than do women in non-unionized workplaces. In Canada as a whole, young workers aged 15 to 29 earn an additional $5.53 an hour if they belong to unions. That is important as they build lives for themselves, paying off student loans, taking mortgages and starting families.

We in the labour movement take satisfaction in knowing that we have helped to build a stronger and more secure economy for everyone here in the Capital Region and all of British Columbia. When unions stand up for fairness, we raise the bar for everyone.

On behalf of the executive and members of the Victoria Labour Council – have a safe and happy Labour Day. See you at the picnic!

Please join the Victoria Labour Council & United Way in the most fabulous event of Summer!

On July 7, we will meet at the corner of Broad and Pandora streets between 11:00 and 11:30 for a 12:00 start. All affiliates, delegates and union members welcome.

We will walk in solidarity with CAW 333 (they have a float) and BCGEU (they have a samba band). Union flags, union swag would be awesome – colour and sparkle not mandatory but STRONGLY encouraged. See you there!

This will begin at 6:30 on Monday May 27th and will be held at the EC branch.

Sharlene Patterson will be sharing her experience and information gathered when she and a delegation from the CUPE International Solidarity Committee went to Mexico to look into Canadian Mining Companies and their activities there.

The following positions are now open for nominations. Please submit your name or the name of someone you would like to nominate to the current CUPE 410 President, Ursula Benoit, ubenoit@gvpl.ca no later than Friday November 30th 2012 at 5:00 P.M.

SPEAKERS:
Sean Meagher, President of Public Interest
Trevor Davies, CUPE BC General Vice-President and CUPE 374 President
Sean was highly involved in Toronto’s core service review and will speak about his experience with Toronto’s core service review and how a community can mobilize and protect their public services when involved in such a review. Trevor will speak from a local perspective about Greater Victoria’s public services and how core service reviews could drastically affect our community.
Location: Camosun College – Lansdowne Campus, Fisher 100, 3100 Foul Bay Road, Victoria BC – at 7:00 P.M.

Provincial government employees will be engaging in strike action and picketing on Wednesday September 5th. They have publicly said that they will not block access to other organizations who share facilities with them. That will be the case with the Central Library and the various government offices on Broughton Street.

If the government employees do, in fact, put pickets up in the front of the entrances to the Central Library, Holman, Helen and Heather will speak to the Picket Captain(s) and try to resolve the situation. If the pickets remain, it will be necessary for Central’s staff to exit the building. Picket lines can be dangerous when members of the public engage in heated debates with picketers. Management will likely decide to close the Central Library. Management is very aware that our members cannot cross a picket line and will understand our need to leave. The consequence of leaving the job will be the docking of pay for the hours that each member was not at work.

We do not believe that it will be necessary for our members to leave the Central Library. Nevertheless, you need to know what is expected of you and what the consequences will be. Please follow any instructions given to you by Holman, Helen or Heather.

CUPE Strike Action at the University of Victoria

CUPE Local at UVIC will also begin strike actions on Wednesday September 5th. They have publicly stated that their goal is to inconvenience Management and not students. They will do everything they can to avoid picketing buildings with classrooms and other student centered facilities.

If you find that all entrances to a building that you need to get into are blocked by pickets, then please do not cross that picket line.

You may at anytime join a picket line.

Communicate with your professor via email and determine how best to keep up with your course work. All course work (readings, essays, lab work, tests, exams) will need to be completed before you can pass the course.